Chris Benoit question

[Jason]

Has Benoit ever wrestled Kobashi, Kawada, Misawa, or any other of Japan's top heavyweights? Just the thought of a Benoit vs. Kawada match is making me drool all over myself.

[emlyn]

When he wrestled in Japan he worked for New Japan, so he couldn't wrestle Misawa, Kobashi, etc...
Most of the time he was over there he was a junior also.
He had a brief return in early 2000 (or close).

[Dangerous_K]

Not to my knowledge... and yes, I think he was at the Jan Tokyo Dome Show 2000... still, he's never fought Misawa, Kawada or Kobashi. And sadly, there's never yet been an Ultimo Dragon/Chris Benoit match... which would have absolutely ruled (and yes, I'm a bigger fan of the junior styles than the King's Road HW style)

[T-Bone]

Originally posted by Dangerous_K
Not to my knowledge... and yes, I think he was at the Jan Tokyo Dome Show 2000... still, he's never fought Misawa, Kawada or Kobashi. And sadly, there's never yet been an Ultimo Dragon/Chris Benoit match... which would have absolutely ruled (and yes, I'm a bigger fan of the junior styles than the King's Road HW style)

From speaking to you countless times, I think the only way the WWE can better itself at this point is to have a PPV style event with some of Japan's brightest stars. From Kawada to Hayabusa to Thunder Liger, I think WWE could only benefit if the had matches with them. I can see a Liger -vs- Rey Mysterio, or a Kawada -vs- Chris Benoit, or a Hayabusa -vs- Taz. I mean, the ratings could easily be high, and it would be a great way to exploit some of the better talent the WWE has to offer us, rather than seduce us to the likes of Undertaker -vs- Hogan... the thought kills me... *vomit*

[Misawafan]

Originally posted by T-Bone


From speaking to you countless times, I think the only way the WWE can better itself at this point is to have a PPV style event with some of Japan's brightest stars. From Kawada to Hayabusa to Thunder Liger, I think WWE could only benefit if the had matches with them. I can see a Liger -vs- Rey Mysterio, or a Kawada -vs- Chris Benoit, or a Hayabusa -vs- Taz. I mean, the ratings could easily be high, and it would be a great way to exploit some of the better talent the WWE has to offer us, rather than seduce us to the likes of Undertaker -vs- Hogan... the thought kills me... *vomit*

I don't think the majority of the American fans would go for that, unless it was in the junior division. In America, most of the Japanese wreslers that got over were juniors. So I would agree a guy like Liger would get over here even though I odn't know if he will ever come back after the Gurrera fiasco, but I believe that guys liek Kawada or Misawa or most any of Japans heavyweights for the matter couldn't get over here. You mentioned Hayabusa, I think he would have done great in the U.S. he wrestles both juniors and heavys and I think his style (if he cut the wrestling out lol) would get over in the U.S. His highflying hardcore style doesn't need much attention span at all to watch and thats what many of the American fans like. Sadly Hayabusa will never again grace the ring, but I have heard that he has regained full feeling and is in rehabilitation now.

[greenman]

On a similar note has there ever been a beniot vs rey jnr match?

No japanese wrestler will ever get over in the US because of the backstage backstabbing that takes place in all mayor promotions. Without a 100% grasp of english there at a massive disadvantage in backstage politics. Kawada would prob end up being squashed in 2 mins by HHH if he ever came to the WWF if he was lucky and by billy gun if he was unlucky.

[Shadow]

i would mark out huge to see japanese wrestlers gracing the rings of the wwe, but i dont think the majority of wrestling fans (those that do not get on the internet and look at wrestling) wouldnt understand what was going on. to me seeing kawada or kobashi or anyone like that would be incredible, but chances are that maybe a 100 people in the arena would even know who these guys were. thats why wwe would have to build them up and is exactly why they need to keep bringing up the young studs like they are now, because i am almost giving up on watching the wwe lately.

[screwloose]

almost? do yourself a favor: one week watch absolutely no wwe. not even the trash they show on the weekends. i guarantee you'll feel 100% better.

[Shadow]

yeah well i guess its just hard for me to stop watching considering i have been watching since i was like three years old....thats how bad its getting to me...i was watching whenever wcw was just killing them in the ratings and it looked like it was the end of the wwe...but now i believe its worse, because they have better wrestlers, and theyre coming off the "attitude" era which completely changed the face of "sports entertainment"...but i know what you mean i think im going to just give it up for awhile and rely on puroresu, and maybe even nwa-tna for the sole reason that i enjoy jarrett, but also the x-division is the best thing going in american wrestling right now.

[Shadow]

i know what yall mean by theres no way really for a puroresu wrestler to get completely over in america.....just think there have only been two black world champions in the wwe/wcw....both of those came in wcw with ron simmons & booker t....and i really believe that well never see a japanese wrestler come in and win a world heavyweight title in the wwe....this is one thing i hate about vince mcmahon....tajiri got over somewhat for a period of time, but now hes almost vacant on tv, besides tag matches w/ noble vs. kidman/helms every single week...he wont ever be able to lift up his game higher that the cruiserweight title....because as everyone knows, vinnie mac really isnt that high on the whole jr. heavyweight's....and when muta came to wcw although he had success in his first run, i remember during the n.w.o. days whenever he came back to wcw with chono and even tenzan for a little while, and they did absolutely nothing with except stick him with the tag belts in a very forgettable run with vampiro as his partner...well enough ranting....im just so sick of all the things going on in american wrestling...wait nevermind american "sports entertainment" today..sorry bout the long post....

peace

[screwloose]

you mentioned something about the new x-division in nwa:tna. i haven't seen any of their shows yet. what is that division like?

[TRZZXQ]

It's their cruiserweight division, with a fast-pashed, high-flying, and overall flashy style. It also has most of their best talent, and most of their best matches, from what I've heard.

[Rubio MHS]

There used to be co-promotion shows all the time. There were the NWA/AWA Star Wars, several WCW/New Japan shows (including the unforgetable match between Hase/Sasaki and the Steiners), WWF/All Japan shows, AWA/All Japan shows, and New Japan/All Japan shows.

[BurningSpirit]

Crap they show at weekends????? You obviously havent been watching velocity... they have WRESTLING on there

[Yoshimitsu]

Hey, when the WWE next tours Japan we might see Benoit wrestle Mutoh.